What is a mainframe?

Mainframes are computers

At their core, mainframes are high-performance computers with large memory (RAM) and processors that process billions of simple calculations and transactions in real-time.

The mainframe is critical to commercial databases, transaction servers and applications that require high reliability, scalability, compatibility and security – the core design values of the mainframe.

Who uses mainframes?

Data centers rely on mainframes to handle surges in traffic. The mainframe scales up in seconds by turning on more capacity. Other platforms scale out, which requires system admins to add more physical servers.

Mainframes are a big deal

Today’s mainframes are powerful, but not as large as their old nickname, Big Iron, implies. In fact, the IBM z14 is the same width as other servers – 19 inches – and can slide right into any data center, fitting in the space of 2 floor tiles. What makes a server a mainframe is not its size, but how it is designed to perform.

Big for business

The mainframe is used by 44 out of the top 50 worldwide banks, 10 out of the top 10 insurers and 18 out of the top 25 retailers.